English philosopher and historian R.G. Collingwood once said, “History is for human self-knowledge…the only clue to what man can do is what man has done. The value of history, then, is that it teaches us what man has done and thus what man is.” Searcy High School pre-AP American history students have taken that theory to heart through a recent project. They have prepared all year for participation in the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. American history teacher Amanda Simpson introduced this project and the final exhibition was Tuesday.

The 2015 National History Day theme is “Leadership and Legacy,” and our students provided presentations on a range of historical figures. The National History Day contest requires students to choose a historical topic related to the annual theme and conduct both primary and secondary research. Mrs. Simpson stated that her students interviewed historians from around the world. They had the option of the following research styles: exhibit, website creation, live performance, paper, or documentary. The objectives of this innovative teaching tool are many. To name a few, they encourage the study of social studies, celebrate the students’ creative gifts, provide a frame-work for hands-on learning, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, use compelling themes, and motivate students through competition and recognition of their efforts. The National History Day also teaches students important literacy skills and engages them in the use of museum and library resources, and it teaches students to utilize technology through the use of Internet research methods.

Students were allowed to work individually or in groups, and they had a specific set of guidelines for each category. The winners will advance to the state competition at the University of Central Arkansas on April 18th. Searcy High School students were judged at the district level by Patsy Ramsey of University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas State Capitol historian David Ware, and Harding University graduate student Jason Edens. The following were named winners at Searcy High School.

(Paper) Everett Kirkman- Amelia Bloomer: The Late Bloomer to Progressive Movements of “Bloomer?”

(Individual Performance) Lauren Bowles-Josephine Baker: Leading the Way to Equality and Leaving a Legacy of Freedom

(Group Performance) 1st place/Jamie Hall and Tori Brown-Give My Regards to Broadway! A Visual Description of how Musical Theatre has Impacted the United States Throughout History